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On August 5, 2023, the state-owned Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) published a new audio of a speech by Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the defense minister of the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In the speech, which is in Pashtu, he essentially upholds the global meaning of jihad.
Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid is the son of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the late founder of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the ruling Afghan Taliban jihadi organization). Mullah Omar famously refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to the U.S. in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, forcing the U.S. to launch a military invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.
Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid delivered his speech to an audience of the mujahideen and the military commanders of the Afghan Taliban's Ministry of Defense. Although he said that jihad is also for defending the current system – that is, the system of government established by the Islamic Emirate since August 2021 – his mention of the purpose of jihad "to protect the borders of Islam" means that the Taliban have never abandoned the global ideology of jihad.
An audio of his entire speech was posted on YouTube. A translation of excerpts from his speech from the original Pashtu language is given below:
"Muslims Have Always Been Successful In The Field Of War And Jihad"; "The Invaders Who Left Here With Eyes Lowered [In Shame] Are Using Other Ways Against Us"
Mujahid says: "You and I, who waged jihad, sacrificed and suffered fatigue – This [the jihad, sacrifice, and fatigue] was for the sake of freeing this country from the occupation of infidels and to restore the Islamic system that was destroyed by them. Jihad is obligatory on us and you from Allah."
"We supported it [jihad], we made every kind of sacrifice, we suffered, we gave martyrs, we were left with widows and orphans, we were wounded, we were imprisoned. After all these sacrifices and this long 20-year period, with the grace and help of Allah, we and you have achieved the goals we wanted. The occupation has completely ended in the country, and the invaders have left this country on the run. We and you have achieved the dream that we had for these past 20 years. Now is the time to work to protect the fruits and the result of these 20 years of sacrifices, and to keep them."
Mujahid also cautions: "Muslims have always been successful in the field of war and jihad. But when the system is achieved by them, then this system is destroyed by them [as they cease waging jihad to protect that system]."
He adds, "The cunning enemy has always tried. When it fails on the battlefield, it tries different ways to take revenge for its defeat or its defeat from the Muslims in such a way that they [Muslins] do not get the fruits of their gains. So, they [enemy] use their intelligence, possibilities, press and various propaganda. They are trying to take away the result."
Relating the history of the Russians who were defeated in Afghanistan in the late 1980s, he says: "We should learn from that history... When the mujahideen were successful, how did you see the result? And what problems did they suffer from?"
He continues: "Now that you and we have established an Islamic system on the land of Afghanistan, you see how many conspiracies of the infidels are going on against us. The invaders who left here with eyes lowered [in shame] are using other ways against us."
"Our Request Is To Educate Both Ourselves And Our Friends About Jihad And The Purpose Of Jihad, And Also Make Them Understand The Importance Of This System"
"Today, they [the infidels] are weakening our system and your system, and bringing it into question. Sometimes they say that there are differences among the mujahideen leaders of the Emirate, and they [the infidels] form imaginary groups. Sometimes they say that there is no security in Afghanistan. Sometimes they say that the government is not inclusive.
"Sometimes they say that the Emirate and Al-Qaeda are close, and that Al-Qaeda is growing, and their centers are being built here, and that then there will be a threat to the world from the territory of Afghanistan. Sometimes they say that the Islamic Emirate has made an agreement with the Americans. So, you and we should be aware of all these things."
Rejecting reports of differences among the leaders of the Emirate and praising them, Mujahid states that "the deal was made with the Americans in Doha according to shari'a and on the basis of national interests." He adds, "Now we must work together to strengthen this system."
"Jihad is not over and working for this system is jihad," he continues, adding: "They [the infidels] make drones; it is obligatory upon you to make drones. They make airplanes; it is obligatory upon you to make airplanes. They make weapons; it is obligatory upon you – and this is jihad, that you should also do this, to protect Muslims, to protect the borders of Islam, to protect your system."
Criticizing the Muslims, Mujahid says: "But today Muslims do not have this idea; they have lost their ability. They wonder why we don't fight, and that only this is jihad. People do not understand the concept of jihad. We and you who serve, they do not call it jihad, and they do not call it jihad when we work to strengthen the Islamic system."
"Now, it is the Emir's order, and it is obligatory to obey it. If someone goes outside Afghanistan with the intention of waging jihad, their jihad is not called Jihad," Mujahid says. He continues: "If the Emir stops mujahideen from fighting and still they are going to fight, this war is a war, and not jihad."
Currently, Mullah Hibbatullah Akhundzada is the emir of the Islamic Emirate, the Taliban organization that rules Afghanistan.
Mujahid tells his audience: "Our request is to educate both ourselves and our friends about jihad and the purpose of jihad, and also make them understand the importance of this system."
In the last part of this audio, Mujahid prays for the stability of this system – i.e., the government established by the Afghan Taliban.
Source: YouTube.com, August 5, 2023.
